Garment hanger



May 30, 1939.

N. s. BROOKE GARMEN T HANGER Filed Dec. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l JVarmazz y 0 1939- 51. 1am: 2,160,325

GARMENT HANGER Filed Dec. 14,1936

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Claims.

The principal object of the invention is to so combine a coat hanger and a trousers or skirt hanger, that these two principal parts of the structure shall be operatively associated for con- 5 venient manipulation of the latter with respect to the former.

A further object of the invention is to so combine the two elements named above, that the trousers or skirt hanger can be readily operated by the hand that holds the coat hanger.

A still further object is to produce a trousers or skirt hanger that shall satisfactorily grip and hold the garment, and yet be easily opened and closed.

Another object is to produce a combined coat and trousers or skirt hanger, that the entire structure may be produced from a single piece of wire or rod material.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the preferred form of the combined hanger of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, looking down upon the top of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the hanger shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting hook being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the hanger taken on the line 3 2*l of Fig. 3.

Fig 4 is a section, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of one of the metallic clamps for holding certain of the elements together.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 3, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified form of coat and trousers or skirt hanger, in which the principal parts are formed from wire and preferably from a single piece of wire.

Fig. 7 is a view of the form of hanger shown in Fig. 6, looking down from the top.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a trousers or skirt hanger, without the coat hanger attached thereto, but with modified clamping members.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the hanger shown in Fig. 8, showing the modified clamping members to better advantage than they appear in Fig. 8.

The hanger shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is the preferred form, and will be first described. The coat hanger Ill, in this form is made of sheet or tubular metal. If made of sheet metal, the ends are bent as indicated, to form the coat hanger. There is a central portion H, from which the arms bend as at [2, and the extreme ends of the arms are then shaped to fit, as at I3, the shoulders in the usual manner. If formed of a tube, the metal constituting the ends of the hanger is forced into the upper side, as shown in the enlarged section Fig. 3 except at the middle part, where the tubular form is preserved as at M Fig. 3, so as to form a convenient guide for the arms of the trousers or skirt hanger, yet to be described.

The trousers or skirt hanger 2!] comprises a supporting hook 2i, and supporting members 22, 22. These preferably are made from wire or rod of a material which is somewhat elastic, for ,purposes to be explained hereafter. While this part of the structure may be made of two or, more pieces of material, it is preferably made of a single piece. Assuming that a hook 2 l, has been formed at the top, of either one or both of the ends of the wire or rod, the two ends are then passed through suitable openings 23 in the coat hanger part of the structure, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The ends are then formed into the trousers or skirt hanger. tance below the hook portion 21. Each endis then bent laterally for a few inches, as at 24; then downwardly, as at 25; then backwardly substantially parallel with the part 24, and beyond its arm for a distance approximately equal to the length of the part 24; then upwardly, as at 2B; and again laterally, as at 21, until it reaches a point directly adjacent the arm or limb 22. Thus there are two members to the trousers or skirt hanger, which are duplicates one of the other.

The portion of the structure which forms the trousers or skirt hanger is secured from movement with respect to the coat hanger by any convenient means. As here shown, special metal clamps are used for this purpose, but it is to be understood that other fastening means may be used. As here illustrated, clamps 28 and 29 are employed for this purpose. These are flattened tubular elements, which are of a size to properly space the arms 22 from each other the desired distance. They are preferably put on the members 22, 22 of the trousers or skirt hanger as the parts are assembled, and then so compressed that one side is forced toward the other and between the members 22, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4%. Clamps 28 and 29, as here shown, are duplicates, except that 28 is somewhat shorter than 29. The length is not important, but must be sufficient to properly hold the arms 22 together. And the clamp 29 must be made of sufficient length to pro Each end extends a suitable distect the fingers of the user when using the trousers or skirt hanger as will be explained below.

Another but different form of clamp 30 is used to hold the loose ends of the rods which form the trousers or skirt hanger to the other parts thereof. This may be of any suitable construction, but is here shown as consisting of a flattened tube with an extension of the top thereof to be secured around its arm 22. This clamp likewise is pressed closely around the members at the joints so as to hold the parts in place with respect to each other. It is to be understood that the parts may here be connected by any other suitable means, as by soldering or welding; it is only necessary that the joint be made as strong and secure as the circumstances require.

A camming slide 35, is used to operate the trousers or skirt hanger to engage and disengage the garment. It consists of a body of any suitable material, preferably metal, provided with openings 36, through which the arms 22, 22 pass with a somewhat easy fit. As shown in Fig. 4, these holes approximately aline with holes 23 in the coat hanger l0. From a point just below this slide, as it appears in position in Fig. 4, the arms 22, 22 normally diverge. The material of which the trousers or skirt hanger is made is elastic, and the arms are bent outward somewhat at this point, so that when not restrained by the slide 35, they tend to diverge, as in Fig. 4. To clamp the garment, the slide 35 is moved down; and as it approaches the lower portion of the arms 22, these arms and the clamping members are drawn together, so as to clamp the garment and hold it in position.

The members 22 may be smooth, as shown in the upper part of the arms 22, 22, Figs. 1, 3 and 4; or. they may have formed in the sides thereof recesses or notches 3| with which the slide 35 may engage with any easy frictional contact,.to avoid theqslipping of the slide; or the upper parts may be smooth and the lower parts notched as may be preferred.

As stated above, the clamp 29, which holds the members 22 in position with respect to the member I0 is made of substantial length. It serves to stop the slide or cam 35, and is of sufficient length to stop the slide at a position far enough away from the coat hanger It) to prevent catching the fingers of the user. In using the hanger, the owner will most frequently grasp the same in the hand at the point where the coat hanger joins the trousers or skirt hanger, and, holding the structure-in this way, lower the fingers to grasp the slide 35 to raise the same and loosen the garment held thereby. As the slide 35 moves up, it will be stopped by clamp 29. In this position there is space for the fingers between where the slide comes to rest against'th'e clamp 29, and the body of the coat hanger l0. Thus effective operation is assured, and at the same time the fingers of the user are fully protected.

In order that the trousers or skirt hanger may firmly grasp the garment, the lateral arms thereof are provided with rubber gripping devices 45. There may be any suitable number of these elements, but in Figs. 1 to 3 only two are shown. They are simple tubular sections forced on the arms, and are of a size to fit closely over the arms when flattened. These grippers, are preferably corrugated on the outside, so as to better grip and hold the garment.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the arms of the trousers or skirt hanger are bent laterally at 4|, to form off-set portions 42, best shown in Fig. 5. These off-set portions are designed primarily to form recesses to receive the seams of the trousers or other garment, so that the other portions of the clamps can more fully engage the fabric.

The hanger shown in Figs. 6 and '7 does not differ greatly from the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. But in this latter form, the entire structure, both coat hanger and trousers or skirt hanger, are constructed of a single piece of wire or rod. A sufficient length of material is selected, which is then doubled at about the middle; from this portion the hook 45 is formed. The strands or rods are then twisted to form the strengthening section 46. One length is then used to form the one side of the coat hanger 41, and the other to form the other side 48. The sections forming the members 41, 48, are twisted together as at 49 and 5|] to strengthen and give rigidity to the parts at this point, Fig. '7, and then bent to form shoulder supports for the sleeves of the coat. The free ends are then bent downwardly to form the clamps for the trousers or skirt. These are the same as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

A camming slide 35, similar to the slide 35 of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is used to operate the trousers or skirt hanger. There is a clamp 5|, similar to clamp 29 of Figs. 1 and 3, for holding the'arms of the trousers or skirt hanger together, just as in the other form already described. Here also, this clamp acts as a stop for the cam or slide 35 to protect the fingers of the users, just as in the other form. The clamp 53 is the same as the clamp 30 of the form already described, and

the rubber members 54 are the same as the corresponding members 40, 40 of the other form.

The gripping members are offset at 55, in the same manner as the corresponding elements of the preferred form, to receive the seams of the trousers.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown a trousers or skirt hanger without the coat hanger. This hanger is in most respects substantially identical with the trousers or skirt hanger of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5. But there are differences which will now be explained. The structure here shown, like that in Figs. 1 to 5, is preferably made from a single piece of material, although it may of course be made of two or more pieces.

It comprises a hook 60, like the hook 2|, of the preferred form; it has a clamp 63, substantially like the clamp 29, Fig. 1, for holding the arms 62 together, and to serve as a stop for the slide 35, as in the first form.

The clamping members, here represented as a whole by the characters 64 and 65 are in general the same as the corresponding elements of the preferred form; but in this instance the hanger is intended more particularly as a skirt support. The clamping members are straight, and are not provided with offset portions like the offsets 42, Fig. 5, of the preferred form; and there are more of the rubber gripping elements, so as to grip the garment entirely across the top.

Operation A brief statement of the operation may be helpful. In the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 6, if used only to support a coat, the device is handled as any ordinary coat hanger; but if used to support trousers or a skirt, that portion of the garment to be engaged; that is, the bottom of the trousers legs or the top of the skirt, is placed between the clamps, and the slide 35 forced down the diverging arms 22, 22 to close the same, and grasp the garment between the rubber clamping member 40, 40, where the same is securely held.

To release the garment, the slide 35 is drawn up, the arms 22, 22, permitted to spring apart, and the garment falls out or may be withdrawn. In releasing the garment, the user may, and often will, grasp the entire hanger in the hand, and with two fingers reach down and grasp the slide 35, and raise the same. When handled in this way, the clamp 29 or its equivalent in the other figures serves to stop the slide 35 or its equivalent, and thus prevents accidents to the fingers, which might otherwise be caught between the slide and the top of the coat hanger. But of course the slide may be moved in any convenient way.

What I claim is:

1. In a garment support, the combination of a coat hanger, a trousers or skirt hanger cooperating therewith, a camming slide on the trousers or skirt hanger for closing and opening the same, and clamping devices on the trousers or skirt hanger for holding the two hangers in proper relationship one to the other and for stopping the upward movement of the camming slide so as to protect the hand of the user.

2. In a garment support, the combination of a coat hanger, a trousers or skirt hanger cooperating therewith and consisting of two normally diverging clamping members adapted to engage and hold the garment to be supported, a camming slide for drawing the diverging clamping members together when in one position and for releasing them in another position, a clamp on the diverging clamping members above the coat hanger to hold these members in proper spaced relation to each other and in proper position with respect to the coat hanger, and another clamp likewise arranged on the diverging clamping members below the coat hanger to likewise hold the diverging members in proper relation to each other and to the coat hanger and to serve as a stop for the camming slide as it is raised to its upper position.

3. In a garment support, the combination of a coat hanger, having two openings therein at or about the middle portion thereof, a trouser or skirt hanger, comprising two companion members arranged one in either of the two openings in the coat hanger, and having normally diverging clamping members at their lower ends, a camming slide on the diverging members adapted to close the clamping members when depressed and to release them when raised, and clamping and stopping means on the diverging members of the trousers or skirt hanger arranged between the coat hangerand the camming slide to hold the diverging members in proper relation to each other and to the cost hanger and to stop the camming slide as it is raised to open the clamping members.

4. In a garment hanger, the combination of a coat hanger having two orifices in the middle portion thereof, a trousers or skirt hanger comprising companion members adapted to pass through the two orifices in the middle portion of the coat hanger, camming means adapted to move up and down the companion members of the trousers or skirt hanger, and clamping devices one above and the other below the coat hanger which are secured on the companion members of the trousers or skirt hanger for holding the members rigidly together and in definite relation to the coat hanger.

5. In a trousers or skirt support the combination of two substantially identical members spaced apart a definite distance at one end and normally diverging clamping members at the other end, a clamp for holding the members at one end in a definite and fixed spaced relation to each other, and a camming slide arranged to move on the diverging members to close the clamping devices when moved in one direction and to permit them to open when moved in the other direction.

6. A combined coat and trousers or skirt hanger made from a single rod of metal, comprising a supporting hook made from a doubled portion of the rod and having a twisted portion at the base of the hook, a shoulder piece made from one of the ends of the rod folded upon itself and twisted together at the middle portion, a second shoulder piece made from the other end of the rod folded upon itself and likewise twisted together at the middle portion thereof, and two clamping members each made from one end of the wire and normally diverging one from the other,,and means for closing the normally divergent members when moved in one direction and for releasing these members when moved in the other direction, substantially as described.

7. A trousers or skirt hanger comprising suspension arms, elongated loops each having a seam receiving depression therein, which loops are fixed to the suspension arms substantially at right angles thereto, and with the loops standing substantially in the vertical plane of the arms, and flat tubular rubber gripping devices mounted on the elongated loops. 8. In a trousers or skirt hanger, the combination of two cooperating substantially identical clamping elements, each comprising a suspension arm and a flat clamping member arranged at approximately right angles to its suspension arm, gripping devices on the clamping members for engaging the garment to be supported, means for holding the suspension arms a fixed distance apart in substantially parallel relation to each other, and a camming element slidably mounted on the suspension arms of the clamping elements for closing and opening the clamping members.

9. In a trousers or skirt hanger, the combination of two cooperating substantially identical clamping elements, each comprising a suspension arm and a flat clamping member in the shape of an elongated loop lying in the plane of the suspension arm, flat tubular rubber gripping devices on the clamping members for gripping the garment to be supported, means for holding the suspension arms a fixed distance apart in substantially parallel relation to each other, and camming means slidably mounted on the suspension arms for closing and opening the clamping members.

10. In a trousers or skirt hanger, the combination of two cooperating substantially identical clamping elements, each comprising a suspension arm having a portion thereof formed at a small angle with respect to the other portion, a clamping member arranged at approximately right angles to its suspension arm, means for holding the suspension arms a fixed distance apart with their outer ends in substantially parallel relation to each other, and with their inner ends somewhat divergent, and a camming element slidably mounted on the suspension arms for holding the arms substantially parallel with each other, and cooperating with the divergent portions of the suspension arms for closing and opening the clamping members.

NORMAN E. BROOKE. 

